Apparatus for the combustion of liquid fuel



(No Model.)

J. D. BODWELL. APPARATUS FOR THE COMBUSTION 0F LIQUID FUEL.

v WII/IIIIIIIIIIII/I/I/IIII/IIII/I/I/ n. PETERS. mmuum ilsirrngn STATES P TENT QFFICE.

JOHN D. BODWELL, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA.

APPARATUSFOR THE COMBUSTION OF LIQUID FUEL.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 320,532, dated June 23, 1885.

Application filed June 17, 1884. (No model.)

or combinations of it with other substances,-

and it may be applied to the furnaces of stoves and ranges or steam-boilers, or used in other places where it may be desirable to promote the combustion of petroleum or similar substances, or to produce a high degree of heat with great rapidity.

It consists of a chamber, of suitable size, closed at the sides, top, and bottom, and having an opening near the top of one sidev through which the products of combustion may escape, and suitable draft-openings to supply air for the combustion. chambers are a series of inclined plates or shelves over which the liquid to be burned is allowed to flow, falling from one to the other until it reaches the bottom or is consumed. In connection with this chamber, I employ. for ranges or stoves, or where it is desirable to heat water, passages through which the water is allowed to pass and be heated during its transmission.

Referring to the accompanying drawings for a more complete explanation of my invention, Figurel is a perspective View showing one form of my chamber, the top being broken away to show the inclined shelves in the interior. Fig. 2 is an end view of the chamber, showing the air-inlet passages and the openings for the connection of water-pipes. Fig. 3 is a vertical transverse section showing shelves in the interior of the chamber and the water-passages.

In the present vcase I have shown my apparatus as formed so as to be applied for the burning of fuel within stoves or ranges; but it will be manifest that it may be made in any desired shape and any suitable size whilepreserving the peculiar features which enables it to burn liquid fuel successfully.

\Vithin the' A is an exterior casing or chamber, which in the present case is shown with the top and bottom horizontal and parallel, and one vertical side, while the other is somewhat inclined, the chamber being narrower at the bottom than at the top. Above the inclined sideB of this chamber is a passage,O, through which the products of combustion may escape from the chamber, and this passage will direct them to whatever point may be desired.

As here constructed the apparatus is suitable for the use in a cooking stove or range, and the products of combustion and unconsumed carbon, &c., will pass out over the tops of the ovens between them and the top of the range, and may thence be directed by the usual passages through different parts of. the range.

\Vithin this chamber or firebox A are shelves D D, which extend from the sides of the chamber as follows: The upper shelf extends from the vertical side of the chamber toward the opposite side, B, inclining downward and extending two-thirds, three-quarters, or any suitable distance across the chamber, where it may be terminated in a small upturned flange, E. The shelfor plate below extends across the chamber with a small downward inclination from the inclined side B, and has a similar upturned flange or ledge E as has been described for the upper shelf. In some cases it might be desirable to multiply the number of these shelves; but I have found that for the purpose herein described, two will be sufficient. These shelves do not extend the full length of the chamber, buthave considerable open space at each end, through which air maybe admitted to pass around and over them freely.

F F are openings made in the ends of the chamber, through which air enters and passes freely around over the shelves or plates D, thus providing sufficient oxygen for the combustion of the material which flows over the shelves and is there ignited.

G is a pipe or passage, through which the oil or other liquid fuel is admitted into the chamber A. This pipe may enter directly into the center of one side of the chamber above the upper plate, D, or it may have branches or suitable distributors, so as to de liver it over the whole length of the plate in case the chamber A is made of considerable length. For ordinary purposes a single pipe will be sufficient, as the material will separate and spread over the plates as much as is nec essary after it falls upon them. When the liquid flows from the pipe G upon the upper plate, D, it commences to flow downward toward the upturned bead or ledge E and is ignited, so as to form a broad sheet of flame all over the surface of this plate. Any surplus whichis not consumed at this point flows over the ledge E and falls upon the next plate below, D, near its upper edge, and flows thence downward beneath the upper plate, D, until it reaches the bead or ledge E at its lower edge, when it falls over, and either falls upon the bottom of the chamber A, or, if the cham her be made deeper, upon another inclined plate, which will again carry it across the chamber in another direction.

The supply of liquid which enters pipe G may be regulated by stop-cock, so that nearly or quite all will be consumed upon the upper plate, or upon the upper and second plate, or a portion may be allowed to fall upon the bottom or any plates below, it being easy to regulate the amount of combustion by controlling the supply of material.

-The amount of unconsumed material and carbon will be practically nothing, and the whole apparatus is easily kept clean and is easily controlled.

In order to provide a means for heating water, which will be especially necessary when the apparatus is used for stove or range, the chamber A, Figs. 1, 2, and 3, has formed within it passages N, extending horizontally along in front of the inclined walls B, one of these passages lying just beneath the outlet-opening G and the other near the bottom of the chamber; These two passages have pipes openinginto them'at one end, through the lower one of which water is admitted to them and through the upper one of which water is discharged. At the opposite end from this pipe-connection the two passages N are united by vertical transverse passage 0, so that the water which is received into the lower passage N passes up through the passage 0, thence along the upper passage N, and out through the pipe. If connected with an ordinary hot-water boiler the circulation will be kept up until the water is as hot as may be desired. If necessary the amount of heatingsurface may be increased by extending the passages across one or both ends or along the opposite side.

Openings F, made at the ends of the chamber for the admission of air for the combustion of the material within, may have suitable valves or gates by which the supply of air through them may be regulated.

The fuel which I employ in this apparatus may be preferably inflammable liquid, like petroleum, or a combination of it or its products with other substances, by which it may be rendered more or less inexplosive or caused to burn with greater regularity.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

I 1. In an apparatus for the combustion of liquid fuel, a chamber having inclined shelves extending inwardly from its opposite walls, said shelves having raised beads or ledges upon their lower or discharge edges, substantially as herein described.

2. In an apparatus for the combustion of liquid fuel, a chamber havinginelined shelves projecting inwardly from opposite sides, the rear inclined wall with the opening 0 near the top, said wall having the passages N formed horizontally in its front and connected at one end, substantially as herein described.

3. In an apparatus for the combustion of liquid fuel, a chamber having vertical front and end plates and a horizontal top and bottom, the rear of said chamber being inclined and having a horizontal opening or passage extending across near the top, as shown, in combination with inclined shelves projecting inwardly from the front and rear walls of the chamber, and provided with raised beads or ledges, as shown, and air-passages or damp ers formed in the end walls of the chimney, substantially as herein described.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

JOHN D. BODWVELL.

YVitnesses:

GEO. H. STRONG, S. H. NOURSE. 

